Auto Skills employees provide free vehicle readiness inspections

Steve Bintzler, Auto Skills Center Manager, checks the battery life of a vehicle Sept. 12, 2012, during free vehicle readiness inspections on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. The inspections were part of the 69th Reconnaissance Group Safety Day, designed to prepare Airmen for upcoming winter weather. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amber Bennett)

Members of the 69th Reconnaissance Group pose for a photo after winning the Amazing Race

Members of the 69th Reconnaissance Group hold up their one-day passes from work Sept. 12, 2012, after finishing first in the Amazing Race during the group’s Safety Day on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Four stations were set up throughout the 5K course where teams were required to correctly answer trivia questions before eventually advancing to the final station. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Susan Davis)

69th RG celebrates Safety Day

Published Sept. 12, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Derek VanHorn
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Airmen from the 69th Reconnaissance Group stepped away from daily operations Sept. 12 to recognize their success in executing safety practices and procedures by hosting a Safety Day here.

Members of the 69th RG organized the day to highlight their accomplishment of reaching a one-year milestone of no driving-under-the-influence offenses and to emphasize safety precautions heading into the upcoming winter months, said Capt. Susan Martin, 69th RG Chief of Safety.

The day began with safety briefings divided into sections of the more than 200 Airmen assigned to the group. The briefings covered DUIs, general safety information, safety trivia and the revealing of the winner of the day's poster contest; which went to Staff Sgt. Jonathan Hayden, a ground systems supervisor.

Following the briefings, Airmen broke into 10-person teams to compete in an "Amazing Race," a 5K scavenger hunt across the base. Four stations were set up throughout the course where trivia questions were required to be answered correctly before advancing as a team to the next station. Hints were provided at the cost of 10 push-ups or sit-ups per member. Winners of the race were provided with a one-day pass from work.

With a focus of safety for the winter months ahead, personnel from the base Auto Skills Shop set up a free vehicle readiness inspection station providing Airmen the opportunity to have their vehicles checked out for potential issues commonly overlooked during the cold North Dakota winters.

Tools such as seatbelt cutters and ice-breakers were also provided to Airmen as safety precautions.

"Safety is universal; it is its integral to every day, whether at work or home," said Martin, adding that the 69th RG has also been mishap-free for more than a year while carrying out more than 3,000 hours of combat support missions.

"Everything we do involves safety," said Chief Master Sergeant Timothy Byrd, group superintendent for the 69th RG. "Today was a day to rejoice the hard work and safety of our Airmen."